Judicial Reform: Adouls announce national strike on February 18–19

Monday 16 February 2026 - 18:30

By: Sahili Aya

Judicial Reform: Adouls announce national strike on February 18–19

The National Council of Adouls has announced a nationwide strike on February 18 and 19 to protest the proposed Law 16.22. The profession, which plays a key role in ensuring legal security in Morocco, denounces the reform as regressive and discriminatory.

During the strike, adouls’ offices across the country will remain closed. The protest reflects growing discontent within the profession, which has been simmering for months. The strike is presented as a warning to the government over the perceived lack of attention to long-standing demands.

Law 16.22, recently adopted by the Council of Government, regulates the organization of the adouls’ profession. The National Council argues that the bill introduces provisions that could undermine citizen interests and legal certainty. The law is also accused of restricting the professional scope of adouls and limiting their integration into the modernization and digitalization initiatives of the Moroccan judiciary.

“This is not an impulsive decision. We have given every chance for consultation, but the government’s responsiveness has been very limited,” said Abderrazak Bouita, Secretary General of the National Council of Adouls, in an interview with Assabah.

Beyond technical matters, adouls insist on a reform aligned with the spirit of the 2011 Constitution and the recommendations of the Judicial System Reform Charter. They warn that conflicts of interest may have influenced the drafting of the law and stress that professional dignity is non-negotiable. The National Council also hints at further mobilizations if the government does not revise the text.

The bill is now before the House of Representatives. For adouls, the strike is not about defending privileges, but about safeguarding the quality of authentic acts and protecting the legal security of citizens.